Heney l



-2 Sheets-Sheet l. H. L. BERGER.

(No Model.)

VALVB- GEAR.

Patented Apr. 4,1882.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. L. BERGER.

VALVE GEAR.

No. 255,915. Patented Apr. 4,1882,

- Eric.

HENRY L. BERGER, OF ST. JAMES, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR ()F ONE-HALF TO ARTHUR J. BILLON, OF SAME PLACE.

VALVE-GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,915, dated April 4, 188.2.

' Application filed December 15, 1881. (No model.)

1' all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY L. BERGER, a citizen of France, residing at St. James, in the parish of St. James and State of Louisiana,

have inven tedcertain new and useful Improvements in Combined Valve-Gear and Governor for Steam-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable IO others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The invention has for its object to secure a more perfect operation of the slide-valves of steam-engines, and by combining with the valve-operating devices means whereby the automatic governing of the valve is effected I zoan'd whereby the usual ball or other governor may be dispensed with; and to this end the invention consists in the details of construction and the combination of parts which constitute my improved valve-motion.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan view, of the devices constituting my improved valvemotion. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the same, the eccentric and slide being removed. Fig. 4 is 0 an elevation of the slide and eccentric, taken on the reverse side of that shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6 show modified constructions of the parts.

- Like letters of reference indicate like parts wherever such may occur in the above figures of drawings.

S is the driving-shaft, set in motion by the piston of the engine in t he,; usual manner.

' D is a disk that is ky'ed or otherwise rig- 4o idly mounted upon shaft S. This disk has a hub, d, and a, peripheral flange or projecting rim, d. Within the annular recess formed by theflange dand theface of the disk is suspended acircular steel spring or band, A, that is held 5 in proper position by the following devices:

B B are two bearing-blocks attached to or cast with the disk on opposite sides of its center and at such a distance as to fit the inner periphery of the band A, against which said blocks bear.

(J O are two coiled springs, one end of which passes through a slot in the band A and is flexibly connected to a flexible segmental steel supporting-plate, P, upon which the band A rests. The other end of the coiled springs O G is attached to the lower end of an adjustingscrew, E E, that passes through a screwthreaded opening in the projecting rim dot the disk D. The screws E are arranged upon opposite sides of the disk on a line at right anglcs to that on which the blocks B are located, whereby four supports are provided for the band, of which two (the blocks B B) are rigid and the other two (the segmental plates P I) are yielding. This arrangement allows the spring-band A to assume a more or less elliptical form under circumstances hereinafter explained. The adjustingscrews E E serve also to regulate the tension or flexibility of the spring-band A, as it is obvious that it may be tightened against its bearings by increasing the pressure of the supporting-plates P upon the inner periphery of the band A. Upon its opposite sides, immediately in front of the blocks B, the band carries two weights, W, rigidly attached thereto, and arranged to slide upon a guide-rod, G, secured to the rim or flange d of the disk D. Each of these weights W has a slide-block, 20, that projects into the sloth of a slide, H, the slide-block 10 being held in the slot by a slide-plate, p, bolted or otherwise attached thereto. Each of these blocks 10 may be rigidly connected with the slide H by means of a set-screw, s, that passes through a slot, h, formed in the edge of the slide H, and takes into the slide-blocks w, for purposes hereinafter explained. A slideway, h, is formed on the rear face of, the slide H, upon which slide the blocks 1, which are held to the slide H by plates Z as shown in Fig. 3. 0 These blocks 1 are formed on or otherwise attached to the eccentric L, or to a disk, 1, connected with the eccentric on opposite sides of its center, the strap M of the eccentric being connected in the usual manner to the valve-rod. The eccentric L has an axial elongated slot, 1, through which the driving-shaft S passes, the length of this slot Z being equal to the travel of the valve. F is an adjusting-screw that has its bearingin the end of the slide H. It passes 10o freely through the slide-block w of one of the weights WV and takes into one of the blocks Z of the eccentric L. By means of this adjusting-screw F the setting of the eccentric on the driving-shaft is effected to adjust the travel of the valve and to reverse the latter when necessary.

From the above description it will be seen, first, that the weights \V are capable of sliding toward and from the center of the disk D in the space between the bearing-blocks B and the projecting flange of the disk D, and, being rigidly connected to the spring A, the latter controls the movement of these weights; secondly, that the weights move only on lines tangential to the center of the disk, lateral movement being prevented by the guide-rods G; thirdly,thateitheroneorboth oftheweights 7 may be rigidly connected with the slide H, and therefore control the operation of said slide; touithly, that the eccentric L has two independent movements, one controlled by the adjusting-screw F, which causes the eccentric to move on the slide H when said screw is manipulated, the other movementbeing with the slide H under the action of one of the weights WV; fifthly, that when the setting of the eccentric upon the shaft S is effected the connection between the eccentric and slide becomes a rigid one through the medium of the screw F, and through the medium of the slide-block to said eccentric is rigidly connected with the weight \V and spring-band A; and, lastly, that the length of the slot 1 in the eccentric L is equal to the travel of the valve.

Bearing these points in mind, the operation of the combined valve-movement and governor may be described in a few words and fully understood. Assuming the tension of the spring-band A to have been adjusted to a given rotation or work of shaft S and the eccentric to a corresponding travel of the valve Vfor instance, the shaft S occupying the right end of slot 1 when the latter is in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1, the shaft rotating from right to left-then the weight W on the right of slot Z is connected to slide Hthrough the medium of its slide-block w and the setscrew s, while the slide-block of the weight on the left of said slot 1 is free to move to and fro in the slot of slide H. 1 So long as the shaft rotates atthe desired speed or performs the desired work there will be no change of position in the movable parts of the movement. Should the admission of steam to the valvechest and piston-cylinder 0 become such as to increase the reciprocations of the valve V and piston 0 and correspondingly accelerate the movement of the shaft S, then the increased centrifugal force will act upon the weights W, attached to the spring-band A, and tend to throw them off on tangential lines, the band assuming a more or less elliptical form. The weight W on the right of slot 1 being rigidly connected with the slide H and the latter with the eccentric L, as above described, the movement of said connected weight will also cause the slide and eccentric to move in the same direction-namel y, from left to right-whereby the center of the eccentric is made to approach more or less the center of the shaft S. As the length of the slot Z in eccentric L is equal to the travel of the valve V, it follows that the travel or stroke of the valve is decreased as the center of the eccentric approaches that of the shaft S. This decrease in the travel ofthe valve, as is readily understood, correspondingly decreases the admission of steam to the piston-cylinder O, and as a sequence the speed of the piston and that of the shaft S is correspondingly decreased. It will therefore be seen that the slide H is influenced by one of the weights only, which acts as a governor, while the other weight moves idly within the slot of the slide and has but a slight influence on the rotation of the disk and shaft, it being counterbalanced by the other weight.

If it is desired to reverse the rotation of the shaft S, steam is cut off from the valve-chest, and by means of the adj usting-screw F the cocentric is moved from right to left until the shaft S lies in the left end of the slot 1, the slide-block w of the weight on the right of slot 1 being first disconnected from slide H. When the eccentric L has been moved to the leftend of the slot l the weight W on that side of said slot is in its turn connected with the slide, as described, and will govern the travel of the valve V, as above explained. Of course it will be understood that when the center of the eccentric is coincident with the center of the shaft S the valve is stationary and covers both the ports a o of the valve-chest that admit steam to the piston-cylinder.

To prevent undue wear or accidental breakage of the bearing-blocks B under the impact of the weights and spring-band, and to deaden any noise that may be occasioned by such impact, buffers I may be applied to the face of said blocks; and to prevent accidental injury to the flange at of the disk D by reason of the accidental breakage of the spring A, buffers I may also be applied to its inner periphery on the line of motion of the weights.

The construction of some of the parts may be modified without departing from the nature and operation of theinvention. Forinstance, as shown in Fig. 5, the weights may be made to move in guideways G, and, as shown in Fig. 6, two adjusting-screws, F, may be employed, one on each side of the slide H, and operated from either side of the disk D. This latter construction will tend to more rigidly connect the parts together and impart to them a greater solidity. In this case the slideH is or maybe provided with additional bearin g for the screws F; ora single screw,F, passingloosely through the driving-shaft and blocks 10, and having a right anda lefthand screw-thread to work in corresponding threads in the blocks Z, may be employed.

It is also evident that an elliptic spring may be employed and the weights attached thereto on opposite sides of its shorter axis, and that the tension of such spring may be regulated in any desired manner by making the bolts that unite the ends of the spring adjustable, or by means of coiled springs arranged within the ellipse to exert their tension to draw the sides of the ellipse together. In fact, various arrangements of spring supports for the weights may be adopted without departing from the principle of operation.

It will also be seen that the coiled springs O C may be connected directly to the springs, and the flexible supports P may be dispensed with.

Having now described my invention, what I desire to claim is- 1. The combination,with the driving-shaft S and the eccentric L, that operates the valverod, said eccentric being provided with an elongated slot, through which the shaft passes, of two weights arranged upon opposite sides of the driving-shaft and appliances to connect either one of said weights to the eccentric, whereby the varying centrifugal force of the shaft through the medium of the connected weight is made to move the eccentric into position to lengthen or shorten the travel of the valve whatever may be the direction of rotation of the driving-shaft,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with the driving-shaft S, the slotted eccentricL,and the two weights WV, arranged on opposite sides of said shaft, of a spring-support, to which said weights are directly attached, suitable bearings for said spring-support rigidly connected with the driving-shaft, and means to connect one or the other weight with the eccentric, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. The combination, with the driving-shaft S,the slotted eccentric L, and the two weights arranged on opposite sides of said shaft, of a spring-support the tension of which is made adjustable, and to which said weights are di rectly attached, suitable bearings for said springsupport rigidly connected with the driving-shaft, and means whereby one or the other weight may be connected with the eccentric, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, with the driving-shaft S and the eccentric L, that operates the valverod, said eccentric being provided with an elongated slot, 1, through which the shaft passes, of means for setting the eccentric to the travel of the valve, which consist of aslide, H, rigidly attached to the shaft, and an adjusting screw or screws, F, adapted to move the eccentric on said slide and secure it in position when adjusted, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination of the driving-shaft S, the slotted eccentric L, the slide H, set screw or screws F, and the disk D, all arranged and constructed for operation substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination of the driving-shaft S, the slotted eccentric L, the disk D, the slide H, the weights WV W, and the set-screws s, all arranged and constructed for operation substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination of the disk D, the bearing-blocks B B, and the weights W W, of the annularspring-bandAand appliances to regulate the tension of said hand, all arranged for operation substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. The combination of the disk D, having flange d and bearing-blocks B B, the springband. A, the adjusting-screws E E, and the coiled springs O 0, all arrangedforoperation substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. The combination of the disk D, having flange d and bearing-blocks B B, the adjusting-screws E E, the coiled springs C O, the supporting-plates P P, and the spring-band A, all constructed and arranged for operation substantially as and for the purpose specified,

In testimony whereofl affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY L. BERGER.

Witnesses:

J. Ramon, J r., V. M. BERTHELETTE. 

